Automatic boiler-feeding device.



M. P. OSBOURN.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLlCATlON men JUNE 1a, 1908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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M. P. OSBOURN.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l6, I908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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MILLARD P. OSBOURN, OF MEROHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WARREN WEBSTER & COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

. Application filed June 16, 1908. Serial N 0. 438,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILLARD P. OSBOURN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Merchantville and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented an improvement in Automatic Boiler-Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to automatic boiler feeding devices, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form 'a part thereof.

' The object of my invention is to provide a means for automatically supplying a boiler with feed water largely derived from the water of condensation of a steam heating system together with additional water to make up any deficiency.

My invention is especially for use in connection with a vacuum system of steam heating but may be used otherwise if desired.

In the use of my invention I exhaust the water of condensation and air from the return pipes and discharge it into a receiving tank under pressure, fr0m which the a1r is allowed to automatically escape and the water delivered to the boiler intermittently 30' as may be necessary to maintain the proper water level therein, the pressure W1th1n the receiving tank, alone, or supplemented by the static pressure of the water column, be-

, ing sufiicient to overcome the boiler pressure.

In cases where the water of condensation is insufiicient to supply the requirements of the boiler, water from the street main may be automatically supplied to the receiving tank under the pressure contained therein, said deficiency supply being controlled by the water level within the tank and which in turn is dependent upon the demands of the boiler.

My invention consists in combining with the boiler, a closed receiving tank, means for supplying water to the tank under pressure, means for supplying water from the tank to the boiler controlled by the level of the water within the boiler, and means for relieving the receiving tank of pressure in excess of that desired for insuring the feeding of the water to the boiler; further in the foregoing combination when the means for supplying the Water to the tank under pressure consists ofa return pipe from a steam heating system and a pump sucking on said return pipe; further when said means for supplying water to the tank is a water pipe through which water may be supplied under pressure, and means controlled by the level of the water in the tank to regulate the supply of the water to the tank from said water pipe. g 7

My invention also comprehends other features of construction which, together with those above specified, will be betterunderstood by reference to the drawings, in which: c

Figure l is a front elevation of an apparatus for supplying feed water to steam boilers embodylng my invention; F ig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the same;

and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the relief valve for the receiving tank.

2 is the return, main from any steam heating system, preferably of what is known as p the vacuum type, and discharges through a strainer 3 into the suction of a pump 5. This pump discharges the water of condensation and air. through a pipe 4 into the receiving tank 6 which is closed and adapted to con taln air and water under pressure. This tank is preferably arranged. at an elevation other end with pipe 7 between valves 9 and 15.

10 is a 'fio'at'chamber in communication with the boiler above and below the water level by pipes 33 and 32 respectively.

11 is a float pivoted within the chamber 10 and adapted to be moved by variations in the water level therein which corresponds to the level within the boiler. This float moves a lever 12, which, by link 13 operates the valve 9 to open it whenever the float ll falls due to the lowering Water level. When the valve 9 is opened the water'will flow through pipe 7 into the boiler 14 directly, through valve 15 if open, and by pipe 8. When filling the boiler the water is per mitted to flow'through the valve 15, but during the normal operation of the boiler the valve 15 is closed and the feed water passes through valve 9 and thence to the boiler by pipe 8. Any other form of automatic valve controlling device may be employed in lieu of that shown.

The tank 6 is provided with an air vent and over-flow pipe 23 having a relief valve 24: to permit the escape of air in case the pressure within the tank exceeds the amount desired. This relief valve may be made of any suitable. construction, and there are many types of safety or pop valves on the market which may be used. In the particular construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the valve piece is forced upon its seat by a spring 28 which is retained by the adjustable stem 29 having a screw connection 30 with the valve body. By adjusting the stem 29 vertically, the spring 28 may be put under more or less compression and thereby vary the pressure at which the valve piece will rise from its seat to relieve the pressure in the tank.

The overflow pipe 23 may discharge to the sewer or otherwise; and while ordinarily only air passes through it in keeping down the pressure in the tank 6, any excess of water which the tank may contain will also be discharged through said pipe 23. A vent pipe 25 having a hand valve 26 may also be provided for use when it is desired to remove all pressure from the tank without disturbing the adjustment of the relief valve 24. While the water from the return pipe 2 is largely due to condensed steam from the heating system and constitutes the main part of the Water supply to the tank 6 during the winter, it is not unusual to have additional water, termed injection water, supplied to the suction side of the pump 5 by a pipe 81, this water being employed to condense any vapors which may reach the vicinity of the pump and also to supply the additional water necessary for the boiler to compensate for loss from leakage and other causes.

Aside from the sources of water supply to the tank 6 above specified, water may be delivered to the tank 6 by a pressure main 16 having an automatic valve 17 controlled by the level of the water within the tank. To control this valve, I provide a float 18 within the tank which in rising and falling rocks a shaft 19 extending to the outside of the tank and provided with an arm counterweighted at 21, the said arm having an adjustable link connection with the lever of the valve 17. By this construction, the valve 17 is opened whenever the level of the water falls below a normal predetermined level. Any other suitable automatic means may be employed in lieu of that shown.

It will be understood that the pressure within the tank may be secured by the pump 5 and the water supply wholly from the pipe 16 or wholly from the return 2 and pipe 81, or partly from each of these sources as the requirements or conditions may dictate.

The operation is as follows :A pressure is maintained in the tank 6 which in connection with the static pressure of the Water in the pipes 7 will overcome the boiler pressure. Whenever the water level in the boilers or either of them get too low the valve 9 is automatically opened and the water from the pipe 7 and tank 6 is forced into the boiler or boilers until the proper level is restored. If the boilers are not consuming suflicient water to prevent overflowing the tank, then the surplus water is automatically discharged to the sewer by pipe 23. If the boilers require more Water than the heating system can supply then the additional water is automatically supplied by the pipe 16.

My invention has been described and illustrated more particularly with reference to supplying water to boilers, but it is evident that the boiler may be considered as a chamber or receptacle into which the water is to be delivered without the necessary restriction that it shall be a steam boiler, and I therefore do not restrict myself to the parts 14: as steam boilers in the limited sense in which such terms are generally applied. My invention may be utilized for any purpose in which regulated supplies of water are required to tanks, chambers or vessels where it is to be utilized.

l/Vhile I prefer the construction set out as being excellently adapted to the purposes of my invention the details thereof may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a system for supplying feed water to boilers, the combination of the boiler, a closed receiving tank, a return pipe of a steam heating system, a pump for delivering the water of condensation and air from the return pipe into the closed tank under pressure, a pipe for supplying the water from the closed tank to the boiler, means controlled by the level of the water in the boiler to regulate the supply of water thereto, means for supplying water under pressure to the tank controlled by the level of the water in the tank, and an overflow pipe from the tank having a reliefvalve to permit the escape of excess of water and of air when the pressure within the tank becomes greater than required to deliver the water into the boiler.

2. In a feed water system, the combination of a return pipe of a heating system, a closed receiving tank at an elevation, a pump for sucking on the return pipe and discharging the water of condensation into the receiving tank, means for maintaining a pres sure in the receiving tank, a chamber into which the Water is delivered from the receiving tank arranged at a lower level than the tank, means for delivering Water from the receiving tank into the chamber consisting of a pipe in Which a static head provides a substantially constant pressure, means independent of the Water supply in the receiving tank for maintaining a substantially constant level of Water therein irrespective of the delivery from the pump, and separate means controlled by the level of the Water in the chamber independently of the level of the Water in the receiving tank to control the flow of the Water under its static head.

3. In a system for supplying feed Water to boilers, the combination of the boiler, a closed tank containing air and Water under pressure, a pipe for supplying Water from the tank to the boiler, means controlled by the level of the Water in the boiler for regulating the supply of Water thereto, a Water pipe for supplying Water to the closed tank under pressure, means controlled by the level of the Water in the tank for regulating the supply of Water thereto from the Water pipe, means independent of the Water supply for maintaining the pressure Within the closed tank, and a relief valve for relieving the tank of excessive pressure beyond that required for feeding the Water to the boiler.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand.

MILLARD P. OSBOURN.

Witnesses:

MARY E. Lnrssn, CLARENCE B. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

